3 Months Old

Alright, I know I promised this post a week ago and the girls are technically 14 weeks on Sunday... but better late then never, right?!

Ella

aka Ella Rella, Ella Bella, Ella Bear

Weight: 11 lbs 5 oz - 40%

Height: 22.5 in - 31%

-The mellow one. However, when she gest mad... enter high pitch screech. Yikes!

-The gassy one... she stinks, really bad!

-She is the lower lip queen!

-She isn't a big fan of the play mat, she cries once you set her down.

-Daddy's girl BIG TIME! She lights up whenever she is with him.

-Loves her tongue. It's constantly sticking out.

Avie

aka Avie Bug, Avie Baby, Chubs

Weight: 11 lbs 14 oz - 55%

Height: 22.5 in - 31%

-Miss Fuss! She is definitely the feisty one.

-She smiles the most and they are big smiles.

-Has been seen sucking her thumb.

-Absolutely loves the crib mobile. She gets so excited!

-She likes to play, very active on the play mat.

-Erica's BFF!

They both LOVE:

* Bath time * Being held and loved * Mornings * Clean diapers * Their swings * Car rides, as long as the car is constantly moving * Standing up, stretching *

They both HATE:

* Pacifiers * Being swaddled * Having their ears cleaned and boogers sucked * Being in their car seats and not moving * Being ignored *

LOVE MY BABY GIRLS!

To see more photos of their 3 months, check out my Facebook.

Not a my friend on Facebook? What's wrong with you!

Record Breaking Night!

Yesterday was quite a day with our multi family yard sale! I was so beat and really need a good night sleep! Well, the girls must have known that because they slept the longest they ever have last night!

I put the girls to bed around 8:30 and surprisingly they fell asleep around 9. I, however, wasn't able to fall asleep until around 10:30. But the girls didn't wake up until 4:30 AM for a feeding!! Did you count that? They slept for 7 1/2 hours!!! It was incredible! What was even more incredible, was that I woke up right before they started to cry. Why do you ask? Let's just say I REALLY needed to nurse and that I was even able to pump 8 oz after I fed them! Yea, it was nuts!

After feeding them and pumping, I was able to get to sleep around 5 AM and the girls woke my up at around 7:30 AM, the usual time. I don't know if you've been calculating... but I was able to get 6 hours of sleep the first time and an extra 2 1/2 hours of sleep after feeding them! 8 1/2 hours of sleep!! And I NEEDED IT! Thanks girls for being so great!

Speaking of sleeping... Let's talk swaddling. Who does it? How does it benefit you? My Mom picked us up some swaddle blankets with the Velcro and everything.. I've heard great things from other mothers that use them, but my girls HATE being wrapped up tight. They are dying to get free. So we just lay them in the cribs... They seem to like being able to move around and have their hands free. So, should I still try to swaddle them? Will it help them sleep longer? I'm open to anyone's thoughts or suggestions!

I'll be posting again later today or maybe tomorrow... The girls are 3 months today!! SO CRAZY! We went to their Dr appt last week and I'm gonna post about it. I just want to get some cute pictures taken first!

Much love!

Job Situation

Yup... it's about that time!

Right after Labor Day, I'm back to work. I know some of you have heard that I was trying to work out what is considered a "job share," but that fell through. Unfortunately no one was available or wanted to do one...

So where does that leave me? Well in order to maintain full time status, which is my only option, I have to work at least 35 hours. Now, most managers like you to work the full 40, but my manager is willing to work with me. He is allowing me to work 4 days a week, 9 hour days as long as I keep up with my book of business. That's easy! I worked 25-30 hours while I was pregnant and did a better job than those working 40+ hours! It's true! I may not work that much, but I'm good at what I do!

But yea... 4 days a week, 9 hour days! It's going to be so hard to get used to. All in all I think it will be really good for me. Not only could we use the extra money, but I'm going to need "adult" time. Get away from all the chaos that is feeding, diapers and screams! I've set it up so that I will work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday! I thought having every Wednesday off would break up my week. Mondays I'll open, 6:30 am - 4 pm and the rest I'll close 9:30 am - 7 pm. The hours might not be my favorite, but it works around Kelly's schedule too. It's going to be weird going back after so long. Especially because they've done a lot of changes while I've been gone. Luckily I won't have to jump right on the phones. I'll just have to get back into the swing of things fast... and find a quiet place where I can pump. That's going to be weird!! Plus, I'll have to stock my filing cabinet with food, since I eat like crazy while nursing! I'd rather have a stock than raid the vending machines or go for fast food!

I'm lucky enough to have family willing and wanting to watch the girls for us! Erica offered to take them maybe once or twice a month on her Monday's off and then my Mom offered to take the rest! She is even willing to take them all 4 days if I need her. Not only is she going to be our primary babysitter, but she has also offered to come here, to our house to watch them! She likes the idea that everything she would need is right here and she has even offered to clean and maybe cook sometimes for us. I know! Amazing right?! I honestly don't know what we would do without her! Plus we have other aunts and grandparents that could take a day here and there! We will probably get the girls into a day care sooner rather than later... but I'm thinking for the first year, we'll take advantage of the free and loving day care!! I still feel bad though... leaving 2 babies with someone is a lot harder than leaving one!

As disappointed as I am that we can't afford me to be a stay at home Mom, I'm looking at this as a positive situation! Even though I've loved the last 12 weeks, I've been going a little crazy couped up in the house. This will be good! It will be good, it just has to! Right?! Let's see if I'll still be saying that in October!

Hope all is going well with everyone! Much love!!

The Twin Switch

I call it "The Twin Switch."

I don't know if all parents of twins experience it, but it's a daily thing here with our girls. "The Twin Switch" happens when one baby stops crying, the other starts. And it just goes on and on. It's pretty funny but can get irritating.

Last night for an example. Both girls were in their swings and Ella starts crying. She goes on for about 5 minutes and then finally settles down. As soon as she stops, Avie starts. And it just goes back and forth!

Ah, the joys of having twins!

Scale Experiment

I used Erica's scale today just to see if I could get a weight on the girls. The scale still didn't pick them up by themselves, so I helped them out! After weighing myself, I held each baby one at a time and got back on. The results took me by surprise! Now it's probably not the exact total, but this is what we got.

Ella - between 9 and 10 lbs

Avie - between 10 and 11 lbs

I really wasn't expecting that! For some reason when I brought them home at 4 and 5 lbs, I thought 10 lbs was going to be huge! But that makes me happy! My Dr said that they should be gaining about 1/2 lb each week so they're just about perfect from their last weigh in!

My favorite part is their chubby cheeks, their cankels and the rolls of fat on their thighs! Adorable! Even Ella is starting to catch up to her sister! But with Avie, you can tell she weighs more just by picking her up! I can't wait to take them to their appointment on the 18th and see how much they've grown!

Love my girls!

Night Time Feedings

So I've mentioned in the past trying to give the girls formula at night so that I will have a time to pump and store the milk.

The first night we did it, we gave the girls 2 oz of formula and 1 oz breast milk. They did great, but it didn't really make a huge difference. Girls woke up exactly 3 hours later to eat again. The second night we tried it the girls would not drink, same with the 3rd night. So we decided to take a step back. Obviously 2 oz of formula was too much to start off. So Monday we started giving the girls 2 oz breast milk and 1 oz formula. It's been working great!! The girls are eating the entire bottle and are sleeping better! We start feeding them around 8:30 and they finish around 9. Bottle feeding the girls takes awhile. The girls are still awake, but we put them in their crib. As hard as it is, we allow them to cry themselves to sleep which can take up to 30 minutes. So they get to sleep at least by 10 pm and they don't wake me up until 2 am for the next feeding! Then after that, 6 am! It's been nice! I've been getting some great sleep! I hope I'm not jinxing it, but 3 nights in a row... YES!

We plan on continuing this until next week and then we'll try to increase the formula, 2 oz of formula/1 oz breast milk. Then give that a week, then maybe we can go all formula and no breast milk. Hopefully that will work and I'll get a good milk storage!

It's been a challenge, but we're working at it! The girls are doing great and I hope

that in the next 4 weeks, we'll make even more progress!

[ 8 Weeks Old ]

It's amazing at how fast time goes and how much they grow. Both girls are doing well with lifting their heads and are becoming more aware of their hands. They are even starting to smile, which I can't get enough of!





How are we doing? Okay I guess!

The girls are staying awake more, but it's in the later part of the afternoon and into the evening. Which is okay. We're wanting to start putting the girls to bed around 8 or 9 and if they aren't tired, we just let them cry in their cribs. They have to learn it's bedtime!

Nursing is getting a lot better, it doesn't hurt anymore. However, I'm finding it hard to "pump and store" for when I go back to work. When you are feeding two babies, you don't really have any left over! So we've tried giving the girls formula at night, allowing me to start storing milk for when I go back to work. The girls seem to like it. I mean, they eat it and don't have any spit ups. However, I think it's giving them tummy aches. They've been extra fussy lately and have had a lot of gas. Let me tell you, I never knew something so small and adorable could smell so bad!! I'm hoping they'll just get used to the formula... because I need that time to store milk. We're even added some breast milk to the bottle to help.

We had a great time in Pine Valley and it was great to see the family! But it's back to reality and trying to get the girls on a better schedule. Their 2 month appointment isn't until August 18th, which they'll almost be 3 months old! I'm trying to see if they have any cancellations for something sooner. I can't wait to see how much they've grown and talk to their pediatrician!

Until next time...

P.S. Like the blog makeover? I have to admit I stole the concept from my cousin Rochelle! I hope she doesn't mind! I just wanted to be able to post bigger pictures, because let's face it... My girls are adorable and deserve to take up the entire screen!

See the resemblance?

We've discovered that Ella looks more like my sister Erica did when she was little than me, her own mother!! Here I put in 36 weeks of pregnancy, all the work and Erica gets the glory!

Whatever!

Erica

Ella

Me

- Identical!! -

Monochorionic twins generally have two amniotic sacs (called Monochorionic-Diamniotic "MoDi"), which occurs in 60–70% of the pregnancies with monozygotic twins (identical twins) . Monochorionic-Diamniotic twins are almost always monozygotic, with a few exceptions where the blastocysts have fused.

Make sense? I had to look up almost every other word! But in the long run it means identical twins in two separate sacs. That's what my Dr told my last Friday when I went in for my 6 week postpartum appointment. So there you have it... Identical! How sure are we? My Dr says he is about 90% sure that they are MoDi. Is that good enough for me? Yes, yes it is! Why?

Because I'm sick of having the "Um, I don't know!" face when people ask me. "How do you NOT know?" or "Well were they in one or two sacs?" are the responses I always get from people. And I really hate going into the whole "well this doctor said one thing and another doctor said this etc etc..." Because people don't care what the doctors say. As soon as I mention that they were in 2 sacs, everyone snaps back.. "Well then they are fraternal." So I'm just done. I'm gonna stick with my doctor! We may have the girls tested later, but for now.. Identical!

The rest of the appointment went well. My incision has healed nicely and Dr Kaelberer says I look great! I'm actually 3 lbs lighter than what I was before I got pregnant!! Who knew? I had to get pregnant with twins to lose weight. He also said that if I continue to nurse, the weight will continue to drop. Of course I have to eat healthy and try to get some exercise. Which I'm going to really try to start doing!

My body type/shape has completely changed since I've had the girls. I now have way bigger boobs and my stomach hasn't tightened just yet. So yes, my stomach is just loose skin that hangs, mega gross!! So none of my pre pregnancy clothes fit or look good on me anymore! It's very frustrating! However, Erica, Kalie and I did hit up Kohl's the other day and they helped me pick out a few new shirts to compliment my new shape! It was a lot of fun! I'm hoping to just keep losing and getting more active so that I'll be able to keep up with these girls...

Our next stop will be the girls 2 month appointment, which is just around the corner! They'll be 8 weeks next Sunday, CRAZY!! I'm very excited to see how much weight they've gained! Hopefully nursing has been enough!

But before their 2 month appointment, we've got Pine Valley over the 24th with my family! Oh I'm so excited!! This is going to be a much needed 4 day weekend! Kelly and I plan on leaving late Wednesday night so we can have at least 3 full days before coming home on Sunday. I'm also excited to see all of the family! Pine Valley is another world! I have so many great memories from childhood and now as an adult! It's a Snow Family Tradition for the 24th of July and I'm happy to continue the tradition with our small family! The girls may not be able to participate in the races this year, but we'll have fun anyways!

SUPER EXCITED for this next weekend!! I'll be seeing most of you soon. But for the rest, have a Happy 24th!!

I want them BACK!

I want my boobs back. That's right, my boobs! T.M.I? Sorry it's how I feel. They are no longer just eye candy. :)

Nowadays, they aren't mine. They belong to the girls. Don't get me wrong, I love my girls and I don't blame them. I just don't like the pain. The cracked nipples, poor latches, engorgement! Will it get better as they get older or worse? Getting older means a better understanding and better latching... however, doesn't that also mean more pain? And what about when they start getting teeth. OMG! I hate thinking about it.

I know I should NEVER wish for the girls to be bigger, because I will regret it. They'll end up growing up too fast. But when can I start with rice cereal? 4-6 months? How long do you nurse? Until about 12 months? I haven't even been doing this for 2 full months and I'm already complaining. Please don't think ill of me... I shouldn't be selfish! My girls need me! And if nursing is the best thing for them... then I'll deal through my problems.

Thank God for the pump. At least I can get a break every once in awhile. My next obstacle is to start pumping and saving for when I go back to work. Because I'm feeding two girls at once, the only time I can pump is after the feedings. However, it's not that much because the girls pretty much take it all. That's my biggest worry right now. Going back to work. Will I still be waking up 3 times a night to feed them? Will I have enough milk to start? Will I be able to pump at work? So much to worry about!!

Alright, I'm done complaining. Sorry about the personal post. I just had to get it off my chest. Ha Ha, CHEST!! :)